Why Earn Your Criminal Justice Degree at Saint Leo University?
Earn your online criminal justice associate degree from Saint Leo University, and learn the tools you need to help your community become a safer place. As a student in Saint Leo’s criminal justice program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of law enforcement, including investigation procedures and the court system. Take advantage of the flexible hours our online criminal justice programs provide our students while learning these life-changing skills.
The associate of arts in criminal justice provides a foundation for a career or for future study in the field of criminal justice.
Learning Experience:
Campus
Education Center
Online
Est. Time to Complete:
2 years
Credit Hours:
60 hours
Associate's Criminal Justice Program Details
At Saint Leo, you’ll hear about the latest techniques from faculty members who've served more than 25 years as crime scene investigators, local and federal agents, chief deputies, detectives and FBI advisers. Saint Leo’s online professors are leading experts on all the skills you need to get your foot in the door: interrogation, non-verbal communication, hostage negotiation, and international sex and organ trafficking. As an approved educational partner by the FBI National Academy Associates, we will help get your career off to the right start.
Learn Your Way:
Online, On Campus, or Near You
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What are the on-campus facilities like?
Students who pursue their degrees at Saint Leo’s main campus near sunny Tampa Bay, Florida, join a community of enthusiastic learners just like them.
Criminal Justice students enjoy plenty of engaging learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, as well as exciting departmental events.
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What are the benefits of earning your criminal justice degree online?
Saint Leo University’s online learning experience provides a well-rounded education with the flexibility to tailor your course of study to meet your individual needs. We know our students have lives outside school, and we seek to meet them where they are. Online students can count on receiving excellent academics as well as opportunities for hands-on learning.
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Taking online classes has afforded me the opportunity to learn while maintaining a job. They give me some flexibility to study at times that work more cohesively with my schedule and allow me to utilize resources such as the library 24 hours a day.
Bentley Streat | Hayes, VA
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New Associate Program Discount: New Horizons
The New Horizons Discount offers a significant savings for students who enroll in the online Associate degree, making education more affordable and accessible. This discount provides students with high-quality education and the opportunity to earn a degree that can lead to better career prospects and higher earning potential.
Are education centers near you offering criminal justice degree programs?
You may also choose to pursue your degree through one of our education centers, which merge a traditional in-person education with the flexibility to match your lifestyle. Education centers offer eight-week academic terms as well as evening and weekend classes.
Career Outlook
No matter which learning experience you choose, you will receive plenty of professional development opportunities, industry knowledge from expert professors, and support from the Saint Leo community. All this together means that you will be ready for a successful career or continued studies upon graduation.
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How will you gain real experience?
Field placement
Earn your police standard certificate with training at the Pasco-Hernando Police Academy. Intern with the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. District Court and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Hands-on learning
Testify and sit on a jury for a courtroom role-playing assignment. Stand in the death chamber of the Florida state prison. Examine fingerprints in a forensics lab.
What can you do with an associate's criminal justice degree?
Online graduates pursue entry-level positions in law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, government agencies, private security companies and other security-related jobs in the private and public sectors.
What are the top criminal justice degree jobs?
| Career | Growth | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Corrections Officer | 4% (Slower than average) | $55,690 per year |
| Paralegal | 12% (Faster than average) | $52,920 per year |
| Police | 7% (As fast as average) | $67,290 per hour |
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020.
Where are Saint Leo criminal justice graduates now?
- Secret Service
- FBI
- Tampa Police Department
- Atlanta Police Department
Student Stories
Saint Leo University has truly been a stepping stone for me. When I entered this university 4 years ago, I was unaware of what I’d be like when I left. Now, 3 weeks away from graduating, I am so thankful that I was a student here. Your time at Saint Leo University is what you make of it, and Saint Leo students are provided with so much opportunity to succeed.
O'shea Williams - Bachelor of Arts Developmental Psychology
“Saint Leo is not just an academic institution, it’s a formation institution. Saint Leo embraced me for who I am, showed faith that I could be my best, and solidified the light that was shining within me.”
Charles Onyeneke ’17
University Campus, Theology
“As a child, my great-grandmother taught me how to pray and to lean on God. Saint Leo inspired us all to learn with compassion and reminded me to keep the faith.”
Brent Patterson ’21
Center for Online Learning, Religious Studies
“As a teacher, building relationships with my students is key to their success. Saint Leo creates those same relationships with its students.”
Brooke Wittington ’17
Education Center, Education
“I had never experienced something as holistic and rewarding as research. Saint Leo University inspired me to take a huge step outside my comfort zone, and I have never looked back.”
Karl Nyman ’22
University Campus, Biology
“Saint Leo inspired me to enjoy learning again, and they had a patient ‘let’s figure this out’ approach.”
Lauren Thomas ’22
Education Center, Management
News
Accreditation
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees.